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BaD 2017.3: youtube research.


On 02/03/2017 at 05:24 PM by Julian Titus

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So, I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs about me doing a lot of research into YouTube. I’ve been trying to grow the audience for Nerds Without Pants, and it’s been slow going. Basically, I’m bad with keeping up on social media, which is how so many other (much newer) podcasts have grown leaps and bounds ahead of NWP. But I think we are an entertaining show, and I put a lot of work into producing it, and I want to carry that over into YouTube.

The funny thing is that, until very recently, I barely watched any gaming stuff on YouTube. I found a lot of it annoying, with loud, obnoxious commentary that’s rarely backed up with facts, and tons of clickbait style offerings.

Now, I’m on YouTube every day, especially since I no longer have TV stations to watch. It’s been an interesting education for me, seeing what I like and what I don’t like, and comparing the views on those videos. Basically, I am confident I will not have much of a following on YouTube. I’m not a very entertaining speaker, and my opinions with video games definitely put me on the “outside”. I’m that guy who was fine with the ending of Mass Effect 3, doesn’t understand how people expected No Man’s Sky to be anything more than it was at launch, and hated everything about all sides of Gamergate.

With that being said, I do think I have a level-headed approach to video games, and I also have something that a lot of YouTubers seem to lack: history. I’ve seen videos where people far younger than I are trying to talk historically about games and it comes across like they’re reading from Wikipedia. That’s not to invalidate their video; after all, fifty years from now the only way people will be able to talk about the NES will be to go to books and various archives, because no one who was there at the beginning will be around. However, I’m glad that I’m old enough to have lived through most of what we consider the video game age. Working 8 years in gaming retail gave me access to games at such a level that few people can hang with my knowledge. And I think this is important in having an informative and fun channel.

I know that I can’t stand the popular “let’s players” out there. I find guys like Markiplier, Jack Septic Eye, and PewDiePie to be infinitely grating on the ears, and I honestly can’t understand the entertainment value of yelling into the mic and treating every moment in a game as jaw dropping or surprising. I really dig what Game Grumps does, mainly because they play off each other in the way that I admire the Giant Bomb crew. Boogie2988 was someone that I initially hated, because I had only seen his Francis character. I think that boogie’s commentary on the industry is fair, balanced, and entertaining, but I find the Francis character to be an insult to gaming and only perpetuates a very tired stereotype. I’ve also come around on Jim Sterling, a man who irritated the hell out of me back on the Destructoid podcast, but offers wicked insight on the video game industry, and I love watching him play truly dreadful games like the recent Black Tiger video.

I want to avoid the angry, ranty side of YouTube gaming commentary. I think it’s played out and tired. Plus, there are plenty of people out there doing that thing if you want it. I want the Nerds Without Pants channel to entertain, educate, and enhance the hobby of gaming. And I want to do it with high production values, like My Life in Gaming, which is one of my favorite channels. I’m actually hoping to move into the field of audio and video editing as a career, and I’m learning video from scratch for this.

If you listen to the podcast what are some things you’d like to see in the video channel?

 


 

Comments

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/03/2017 at 06:05 PM

I honestly can't think of something I'd want to see on NWP's YouTube that's not already done, but I'd watch gaming history videos from you. Since you worked retail, I bet you have interesting stories about not only the games themselves, but the people showing up to buy them. 

Some video podcasts of NWP or let's plays featuring you all doing co-op or versus would be welcome for me as well. 

I know what you're saying about screaming YouTubers. I definitely like how the freakouts on Game Grumps feel more earned. The buildup is part of what makes it funny for me. It feels like a punchline instead of a constant stream of overhyped vocals. That said, I find Markiplier much more likeable than PewDiePie as an entertainer, but if I'm watching let's plays it's either Game Grumps or Double Toasted. Speaking of Double Toasted, they're hilarious. My only problem with them is their intros tend to drag, especially if you already know the context behind what they're talking about. 

Julian Titus Senior Editor

02/06/2017 at 01:46 AM

I'm sure it will take me some time to work out a format that I like. I'm looking forward to using the channel as a place to voice my thoughts on video game issues of the day, since we try our best to make Nerds Without Pants timeless and don't focus on news or bleeding edge releases.

Cary Woodham

02/03/2017 at 07:09 PM

I would like to have my own YouTube channel as well.  But I'm going to need to learn a lot more about it and I'm going to need some help as well.  And help and knownledge are two things I don't have much of right now, so it may have to wait.

I find a lot of YouTubers annoying, too.  Sometimes I like to watch PeanutButterGamer, and Slopes Game Room.  In fact, I may be collaborating with Slopes Game Room on a History of Pac-Man feature.  We're in the pre-planning stages on that. :)

Michael117

02/03/2017 at 07:20 PM

I remember over the past few years Vinny and Drew have been doing panels at cons or answering questions in various places on the net about video production, editing, and other things they do at Giant Bomb. I imagine they'd be great sources of knowledge on top of the youtube stuff you find.

I'd like to see content that connects people with you and let's them into your perspective, history, and teaches them about games in the process. You have more retail experience than anybody I've ever known and it was during one of the more exciting times in gaming that a lot of people have nostalgia for, so you already have an interesting perspective out of the gate. I don't actually follow anybody that talks about gaming history to much extent, the closest thing I get is Jeff Gerstmann talk about it as it comes up organically on the Bombcast in conversations, so anything digging into history would be new for me.

And in the process, letting people get to know you through your own history, your journey with games, things that are happy, things that are sad, and everything inbetween. The people who are most likely to watch have probably themselves been playing games for a while, so they know what it feels like to go through ups and downs in life and be able to fall back on games for whatever multiude of reasons that games benefit their lives. Comedy and levity are great too, especially the type of persona you bring out into the podcast. The Pewdiepie styles of comedy are annoying like you said. Having a more grounded approach and nuanced opinion is way more interesting than treating each thing like it's the best or worst you've ever experienced, and you have a long history of nuance and thoughtful critique.

Julian Titus Senior Editor

02/06/2017 at 01:48 AM

Yeah, I love the way Jeff will drop some video game knowledge just out of his head, and I definitely have that ability, too. I think it comes out during the podcast, especially when I can point out that those cult classic games that "everyone" claims to love was a total flop (looking at you, Beyond Good & Evil).

Matt Snee Staff Writer

02/03/2017 at 07:23 PM

just when u think nothing new can be done with something, somebody does it. So, keep at it, and be yourself, because no one else is exactly like you. 

Julian Titus Senior Editor

02/06/2017 at 01:48 AM

It will take me time to find my niche, and if I get more than 100 subscribers I'll be pickled tink. I hope that I can at least make me stuff look and sound good enough to make a great impression.

Ranger1

02/04/2017 at 08:05 PM

I would actually watch a youtube video that you did. I find most gaming youtube videos highly annoying, and I do have a very short attention span when it comes to sitting at my computer watching a video, but I think if it were someone I knew (well, at least on here) and respected, that might be a different story.

Julian Titus Senior Editor

02/06/2017 at 01:50 AM

I appreciate that! I too find a lot of the commentary to be annoying, but once you start digging in you can find some really thoughtful and entertaining stuff. I used to have an issue with long form internet video (and I still prefer them under ten minutes), but now that I don't have cable I've come to appreciate longer videos that are well produced.

KnightDriver

02/27/2017 at 11:36 PM

Just watched some Wisecrack videos that Super Step posted. Love the smart, insightful stuff. Not a regular youtube watcher anymore though. Just what's posted here on Pixlbit. Not sure what to suggest. 

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